Zambia has recorded its first death from the Coronavirus, with 3 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the number to 39.

Speaking during the COVID-19 press briefing today, Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya said the victim died around 02 hours this morning. Dr Chilufya, who gave the victim a moment of silence, said that the deceased had an underlying health condition.

Dr. Chilufya said out of the 160 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the country confirmed Three.

The Minister said the lastest is a couple and a pharmacist. Dr Chilufya said the cases are from secondary contacts, which confirms the human to human transmission.

Dr. Chilufya also warned media houses that keep pursuing suspected COVID -19 patients against violation of the rights to privacy and the risk of exposure to the virus.

Dr Chilufya called on Market Managers to ensure that the measures that have been instituted by the government such as social distance are observed.

The Minister said overcrowding and non-observance of the regulations will lead to the closing of the trading facilities as this is authorized under the Public Health Act and Statutory Instruments 21 and 22.

Meanwhile, Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya has called on Media personnel to exhibit high levels of professionalism and avoid following persons that are suspected to be suffering from the COVID-19.

Ms Siliya advised Zambians to avoid stigmatizing the COVID-19, urging the media to remain focused and help Government in sensitizing the public on the COVID-19.

She also stressed that it does not pay for anyone to be hiding numbers of the people affected with the disease as Government is worried with the number of cases in the country.

Ms Siliya Siliya, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services, called on everyone to support governments interventions and take responsibility

The decision by the Zambia Revenue Authority to commence Tax Compliance visits at media houses has worried some stakeholders.

On Monday, ZRA through its Acting Director-Investigations Catherine Chilambe had written to a number of radio stations including ZNBC, Daily Mail, Hot FM and Prime TV informing them that ZRA will be undertaking an exercise to check their tax compliance for the period between January 2015 and December 2018.

But some stakeholders are fearing that the Compliance visits are merely a camouflaged assault on Prime TV, seen by many as anti-establishment.

Transparency International Zambia President Reuben Lifuka says no media house will be spared by the government tough stance against divergent views ahead of the 2021 elections.

“When the Zambian political establishment went after the Post Newspapers, other media houses were silent and some celebrated the downfall of the Post and Fred Mmembe. Now the bells are tolling for Prime TV and all others are silent- take note you could be next. Speak out,” Mr. Lifuka said.

He added, “Clearly as we go in Elections 2021, the PF will continue to narrow the space for a free independent media and vibrant civil society.”

Mr. Lifuka said the clampdown on the media makes it difficult for them to provide checks and balances.

“This dilutes checks and balances. We shouldn’t allow this to happen because soon, individual liberties and freedoms will be assaulted,” he said.

And Ackson Sejani accused President Edgar Lungu of plotting to kill Prime TV.

“In 2016, just before Lungu closed the post newspaper, the post asked the following fundamental question: Who will defend the opposition victory? This was in an apparent reference to the imminent closure of the paper then.”

“The fears of the post came to pass as Lungu did whatever he wanted without fearing being exposed by the media. Another election is coming and Lungu wants to do something similar because it worked for him. He is plotting to close prime TV so that no one will defend opposition victory again.

Me Sejani added, “It is happening right before our eyes and I hope we will not take it lying down.”

Patriots for Economic progress Leader Sean Tembo says Zambia is better off immediately defaulting on external debt in order to preserve some capacity for the country to meet its domestic debt obligations as and when they fall due.

Mr Tembo says the prevailing circumstances would give the country legal protection even if government decides to default on external debt obligations.

He has urged the Attorney General to invoke the force majeure clause in the external debt agreements and write to creditors to inform them that the COVID-19 global pandemic has brought about circumstances that make it impossible for Zambia to meet its obligations under the respective loan agreements.

Mr Tembo said Government shoukd move fast and consider the above measures saying this is not a time for lethargy if the country is going to successfully navigate the economic storm that the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about.

He added that it is also worth noting that if Zambia is not able to maintain some financial muscle during this period of the pandemic, it will be very difficult for the country to successfully fight the COVID-19 pandemic itself.

Mr Tembo said therefore, the Minister of Finance is as important as the Minister of Health in the fight against COVID-19.

He said PEP is ready and willing to temporarily shelve their differences with the PF and its Government and actively contribute to the country’s planning in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Tembo said Zambia is facing an existential threat which all Zambians need to treat as such, not only in words but in deeds as well.

And Mr Tembo says it is common cause that the social-distancing guidelines recently announced by President Lungu have resulted in the total shutdown of some economic sectors such as tourism, entertainment, religious services, etcetera, while several private companies have decided to suspend operations and lay off most of their employees.

He said equally, a number of mining companies on the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, who are a key source of forex, have also started to suspend their operations in the interest of protecting their workers from COVID-19.

Mr Tembo said is also common cause that the lockdowns that have been effected in several of Zambia’s neighboring countries such as DRC Congo, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe will result in extremely low traffic for goods at our borders.

He said in terms of non-tax revenue such as fees and levies, there is no doubt that Government’s main sources are fees related to the movement of motor vehicles such as those collected by RTSA, NRFA, and fuel levies.

Mr Tembo said with Zambians being advised to stay indoors resulting in reduced traffic on the road, there is no doubt that Government’s non-tax revenues have equally dwindled and will continue to dwindle for the unforeseeable future.